A Prince Who Is Much More Than Just Charming

Once upon a time…Luner on Theatre decided to review a cabaret! So we headed over to Don’t Tell Mama where Bret Shuford is currently appearing in his brand new show, Charming: The Tale of an American Prince! Filled with a great story, one talented performer and even some true Disney magic, we were excited to spend the night with this artist known for having Disney magic in his every day life! Bret Shuford’s Charming: The Tale of an American Prince, is not only a cabaret that tells the story of a prince but reminds us of how we can find more magic in our every day lives.

To say Bret Shuford is accomplished, is simply a mere understatement. Bret made his Broadway debut in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and since than has performed in a number of other productions on Broadway. He was the understudy for Lumiere in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast as well as the understudy for Prince Eric in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. He has also appeared on the national tour of Lincoln Center’s South Pacific as well as The Sound Of Music. This of course, does not include any mention of the regional or film work Shuford has done in his time since graduating from Wagner College.

His new show Charming: The Tale of an American Prince officially opened April 25th at Don’t Tell Mama in New York. Throughout the course of the cabaret, Shuford is upfront with the audience from the very beginning. He tells of his Texas origins and how he got to New York. His struggles to leave Texas and its ideals behind as he moved on to a more progressive NYC. I would be selling the entire cabaret sort by simply saying it is the tale of one man’s journey to New York. It is a tale of journey and how it has shaped Shuford into the performer and person he is proud to be today. He is confident, strong and knows that he is exactly where he should be in life. Pictured Above; Shuford at a previous Cabaret Performance.

From his native roots in Texas to his work in theatre to his marriage and beyond, Shuford transitions through his journey in song. (How else would you?!) While the show overall is filled with many classic Disney tunes you can’t help but hum along to, the cabaret also features a selection of musical theatre songs that fit Bret’s journey such as “Corner Of The Sky” from Pippin or “Agony” from Into The Woods. The resounding theme of the music, fairytales. The only proper choices for this artist who quickly proves to us he is a prince among men. Overall, the song always fits the storyline and the emotion of the moment spot on. His song choices not only assist in his storytelling but highlight Shuford’s wonderful voice which more than fills the room he has at Don’t Tell Mama. His vocals are one of the biggest highlights of the entire production as his brings to life song after song.

Shuford ends his cabaret performance with a fantastic rendition of “Brave” by Sara Bareilles which is an ode to the message he leaves us with at the end of his performance; being true to yourself and following what you believe in are some of the most important things in life. And despite all the battles you face, dragons that attack you and hills you must climb, you will get there. Eventually. To quote the prince himself, “There will always be dragons. There will always be giants.” But Shuford reminds us there will also, always be stars. We’re glad to know we’ll always have stars like Bret Shuford around to remind us of why we must keep moving forward in this absolutely insane world we live in.

Bret Shuford’s Charming: The Tale of an American Prince plays Don’t Tell Mama two more times in New York City! The final two performances are on May 2nd and May 5th at 7:00 PM. There is a $15 cover charge and 2 drink minimum. For more information, visit Bret Shuford’s Official Website! Be sure to check Luner on Theatre on Facebook and Follow Us on Twitter as well! We are constantly updating these pages with information! And of course, check out the rest of Luner on Theatre for all your theatre news you don’t only need but want to know and so much more!

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Luner on Theatre was a blog created for the sole purpose of being a forum for theatre discussion on the Internet and social networking sites. Luner on Theatre is not only a theatre news-reporting site source, but is also a site that works to publish topics that will spark discussion among those working in the theatre industry and the fans that support it.